Bradley Wiggins says he may need to move teams if he is to further his cycling career. The three-time Olympic track champion impressed during this year's Tour de France when he finished in fourth place behind Lance Armstrong, but he believes it will be difficult to improve on that if he remains at the Garmin-Slipstream team.

"The Tour de France changed everything," he told the BBC. "It's like trying to win the Champions League – you need to be at Manchester United but I'm playing at Wigan at the moment so I have to make that step up."

There has been speculation that he might move to Team Sky but Wiggins, who is tied to Garmin until 2010, did not make any reference to joining the British-based squad.

His comments will have interested British Cycling's performance director and Team Sky principal Dave Brailsford, who confirmed there are still places available on his roster. "There are two or three more spots to fill on our roster and we have our eyes on a few riders," he said. "But key British riders are maybe under contract and we've got to respect that."

Wiggins's performance in France this year was a surprise and the cyclist admitted it had helped him refocus his ambitions.

"No one would have imagined I would finish fourth," he said. "Going into this year I hoped for success in time-trials. I never really imagined I'd be climbing with the best in the Tour. It has changed everything about the future and what I'm capable of achieving. I believe I'm capable of getting on the podium – I was inches away from it this time.

"Next year I'll be stronger. I'll have a bit more self-belief and confidence. It will be very difficult to challenge [the Tour's winner] Alberto Contador. He is an amazing rider but I'll go in the best possible condition and see what happens. I won't go in to finish third. I set off to win the race."

Wiggins also added that he hopes to compete at the London Games in 2012, where he will defend the 4,000m pursuit gold medal he won in both Athens in 2004 and Beijing last year.

"I want to defend my pursuit titles in London but it is quite far away to think about," he said. "This year still hasn't sunk in but London is at the back of my mind and I'd love to be going for number three in the individual. It will be a nice way to end my career if I do end it there, which I probably will."